Dale Zanine-US PRESSWIRELSU cornerback Morris Claiborne is projected to be selected in the top-five this Thursday at the NFL Draft.

OVERVIEW
Consider the recent success of Green Bay, New Orleans, New England, the Giants and — until Peyton Manning departed — the Colts. The amount of capable wide receivers and tight ends on a given play is mind-boggling and often too difficult for outside linebackers and (some) safeties to pick up the slack.

During these previews, we’ve talked a lot about the evolution of NFL offenses into the pass-first game and here’s the flip side — the more threatening options on offense, the more capable corners and safeties you’ll need on defense.

There is one (maybe two) sure-fire top 10 pick in the class, and at least four or five corners and safeties in total that should sneak into the first round. The marquee name has been Morris Claiborne from LSU, who makes sense for every team drafting between No. 3 and No. 7, which should make for an interesting first round.

THE PROTOTYPE

Versatile athletes like Arizona’s Patrick Peterson — the No. 5 pick in last year’s draft — are certainly at a premium here. Teams are going to want cornerbacks who are great in coverage but also intuitive in the zone, allowing them to be a little bit more unpredictable scheme-wise.

Like Peterson, having the ability to be an explosive kick or punt returner doesn’t hurt, especially when a team is deciding between a defensive back and another player.
When talking specifically about safeties, it’s all about the ball hawk mentality and the ability to be a defensive signal caller. Eric Berry from Kansas City and Earl Thomas from Seattle — both 2010 selections — immediately come to mind.

THE TOP 5
Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
5-11 ¼, 189. 40 Time: 4.49

Hands down the most talented overall cornerback in the draft. He’s got sub-4.5 speed, great cover skills and the ability to step up and make a play in the run game. He led a staunch LSU defense and even managed to make a name for himself behind Patrick Peterson two years ago. We think he grades on the same level as Peterson and should turn out to be a top-5 pick as well. The one downside, however, is the low score (4) he reportedly received on the Wonderlic test. Although it’s not a true judge of a player’s ability, it is a little scary for some teams with more complex schemes.

Mark Barron, S, Alabama
6-1 ¼, 215. 40 Time: 4.50

Don’t be fooled by the big hits, Mark Barron isn’t just a one-trick pony. The top-rated safety, out of Alabama, has great closing speed and rarely gets burnt. He’s also, obviously, better than average against the run, a top-five tackler and the best blitzing safety or corner in this draft. His name has been surging up the draft board these last few weeks and teams could be making a push to get him in the 10-13 range.
Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
6-0 ½, 190. 40 Time: 4.41

He started for three years in the SEC against the best talent in college football. He may have been hurt by the fact that the Gamecocks weren’t as hyped as the Alabama’s and LSU’s of the world this season, but without as much help in the secondary he still put up gaudy numbers. We think he’ll be the second cornerback off the board, pushing himself as high as the 12-17 range.
Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
6-1 ½, 186. 40 Time: 4.47

Kirkpatrick certainly didn’t shy away from the bright lights against LSU in the BCS national championship game, making two tackles for a loss, but his skill set goes way beyond that. He was a Thorpe Award finalist this year and had a stellar combine workout, too. It’s important to be wary of this many guys coming out of one defense, though, as the possibility to overrate is there. But Kirkpatrick seems like a pure first-round talent and will definitely be snatched up in the first.

Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame
6-2, 214. 40 Time: 4.56

Smith has a lot of game experience, making 47 starts for the Fighting Irish over a strong four-year career. Numbers-wise, he compares favorably with pretty much everyone at his position coming out of the draft and he has the ability to rotate between the strong safety and free safety position. He saw lots of top-tier talent with Notre Dame and performed well against some of their stronger opponents (five broken up passes against Michigan State and a career-high 14 tackles against USC). He could potentially slide up into the first round, but is more than likely an early second-rounder.

Reports of late suggest that Morris Claiborne could jump as high as No. 3, which could really set a wild draft in motion. Others have suggested that the Cowboys are so high on Mark Barron that they may want to trade up to make sure he’s there.
As one of the more valuable commodities in this draft, look for the defensive backs and safeties to be a real fun position on draft day. Like receivers, we’ll see a good number come off the board and, potentially, teams giving up some valuable assets to secure them.

GIANTS

You could never have enough ... cornerbacks? The Giants lost five to injury last season so they’ll continue to add depth. They brought Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick in for a visit and have done plenty of homework on Arizona State’s Omar Bolden, a former top prospect now considered a mid-round pick after tearing his ACL last year. Look for them to add a safety as well.— MIKE GARAFOLO

JETS

The Jets are very thin at safety, with just two experienced safeties on the roster, Eric Smith and LaRon Landry. Landry is coming off a season-ending Achilles injury that he rehabbed without surgery, and the Jets also lack a true center fielder-type safety. Alabama’s Mark Barron is considered the best in this draft, though Jets VP of college scouting Joey Clinkscales hinted last week that he may not be the best fit for the Jets’ man-to-man system. LSU’s Brandon Taylor and Notre Dame’s Harrison Smith are also on their radar. The Jets’ top three cornerbacks are set — Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Kyle Wilson — but they could use additional depth at the position, perhaps with a late-round pick.—JENNY VRENTAS